New Ulm weekly review., 1887-04-27
Z ALHxAxDER MlTCHELL DEAD.


He Dies Suddenly In Now York the 10th inst.
Heart Trouble Of Long Duration Followed BY
Pneumonia the Cause.
New York Specinl Alexander Mitchell.
the famous millionaire and railway mag
nate OF the northwest, died rather sudden
ly at the Holman house at 1926 on the
afternoon OF the 10Th, OF bronchial pneu-
monia, complicated by intermittent ma
larial lever.
He had been spending some time in ack-
sonville. Florida, and its vicinity, where
he owns in conjunction with his wife q
magnificent orange plantation, and while
there he had insisted on getting up and
taking early morning walks every day be-
lore the heavy dew of that region had been
dissipated. In this way he contracted ma
laria and when he returned to New York
he was quite Ill and afterwards caught
severe cold which developed into cap
illary bronchitis and finally it terminated
in pneumonia. Mr.. Mitchell's son and
the latter's wife were at the Hoffman house
with their father, and when the illness of
the elder Mitchell developed seriously DR..
Mackie, who married niece OF the mill
ionaire and who was his family physician,
came on with his wife from
Milwaukee to the bedside of the
patient. Affairs seemed to mend, how
ever, until this morning, after Mr.. Mitchell
had partaken OF his breakfast OF oat meal.
and then he grew suddenly worse. The oat
meal was not digested, and the fact aggra-
waited the phenumonic symptoms and f.
nally produced failure OF the functions Of
the heart and death. He had for some
time previously been troubled with inpeded
action OF the heart.
There were present besides the attending
physicians when Mr.. Mitchell breathed his
last, his son, John l.. Mitchell, and the lat
stadt, the artist, Mrs. Mackie, Supt
Miller, OF the Milwaukee and Saint
Paul road, OF which Mr.. Mitchell was
president, Rev. DR.. Keene of Milwaukee,
the almost constant companion of Mr.
Mitchell on his various journeyings, An
drew J. Aikens, the editor of the Evening
Wisconsin OF Milwaukee and a warm per-
sonal friend OF the deceased, the latter's
two Wallets and others. The scene was af-
fecting, and prayer was offered by DR..
Keene. His remains were taken to Mil
waukee for interment.
Dispatches from Milwaukee: Mr.. Mitch
ellis wealth is variously estimated at from
twelve to forty millions. It is probable
that the first figure is more nearly
correct than the latter. In fact, it is even
likely that $12, 100000 will prove
to, be too high a figure. Mr.
Mitchell has notduring late years been
as heavy holder OF St. Paul railway
stock as in former years. and has not in
creased his investments | other fields
His estate consists largely OF securities
OF various kinds. Outside of his
magnificent residence on Grand avenue,
the chamber OF commerce and
Mitchell bank buildings he has compar-
atively small landed possessions. He
is known to have left will. John L..
Mitchell, Mr.. Mitchell's only son. has fre-
quently been spoken OF as a possible sue
cessor OF his father. 1t has been rumor-
ed that the general Offices Of the road
would be removed to Chicago on
Mr.. Mitchell's demise. The charter OF
the company, however, stipulates their To-
cation in Wisconsin and the president
must also be resident OF that state It
is thought that John Plankinton OF Mil
waukee or Phil D. Armour OF Chicago,
both OF whom are heavily interested in
the St. Paul, will succeed Mr.. Mitchell.
but Armour says he will not accept.
In the Marine and Fire Insurance bank,
OF which Mr.. Mitchell owned SO OF 100
shares, John Johnston is likely to be Mr..
Mitchelps successor. Mr.. Mitchellis survived
by wife, who is at present at
her Floridian villa; a son, John L. and an
adopted daughter, Mrs. DR.. Mackie OF this
city, and a sister and brother living in
Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Alexander Mitchell was born Oct. 18th,
1917, in the parish OF Ellon, Central Aber-
deenshire, Scotland. Elton is about mid
way between Aberdeen and Peterhead, and
six or eight miles back from the North sea
coast. In this quiet farming region his
father, } ohm Mitchell, was an Industrious
substantial farmer, man OF vigorous in
tellect, self-reliance and probity
In May, 1889, Mr.. Mitchell then in his
twenty second year, came to the United
States and settled in Milwaukee, then a
village OF about 1000 inhabitants. He
and Mr.. Smith began business as the Wis
consin Marine and Fire Insurance compa-
ny, and were wonderfully successful from
the start
It is not too much to say that to him, far
more than to any other man, living or dead,
Milwaukee owes her prosperity, and al
most her very existence, as anything more
than II small provincial town. And not
only is this true OF Milwaukee, but OF Wis
consin, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota also.
To Mr. Mitchell's fine management, aided
by S. s. Merrill and his associates, is due
the success OF this vast railway enterprise.
In religion he was a Presby yterian for some
time, but latterly was vestryman of st.
Jam es Episcopal church, Milwaukee. Mr..
Mitchell was married Oct. z, 1841 to Miss
Martha Reed, the daughter of Seth Reed,
one OF the pioneers OF Milwaukee.